EU warns Slovakia on nuclear plant restart

The European Union said Monday it would take action against Slovakia if it restarts a Soviet-era nuclear reactor to cope with a gas shortage caused by the dispute between Ukraine and Russia.

Under EU pressure, several eastern European nations have been forced to close atomic power plants that don't meet modern safety standards, making them rely more on imported Russian gas.

Slovakian Energy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek told reporters in Brussels that the Jaslovske Bohunice nuclear plant would restart Tuesday morning to compensate for the loss of Russian gas - even though supplies will be restored within days.

Czech television reports said the Slovak plant would stay running until the country had refilled its gas storage capacity.

EU spokesman Ferran Tarradellas Espuny says the shutting down of the old reactor in the Jaslovske Bohunice nuclear plant was a condition for Slovakia joining the EU in 2004.

The European Commission said it was helping Slovakia deal with energy shortages and warned it would be a "serious violation" if the nuclear plant reopened. Tarradellas did not specify what action the EU would take.

The energy minister in Bulgaria - the EU nation worst hit by the gas cut off - told Associated Press Television News that it too would reopen nuclear reactors in a crisis situation.

Russia shut down its natural gas pipeline to Europe last week amid a dispute with neighboring Ukraine, but has promised to restart supplies early Tuesday. It will take at least a day for the gas to reach European customers.

Slovakia depends on Russian gas to keep its citizens warm during the freezing winter. It declared a state of emergency last week, ordering 1,000 companies to reduce consumption and keep gas for homes, hospitals and schools.

The nuclear plant used to generate a fifth of the country's electricity. The last reactor shut down Dec. 31 under EU pressure. Another reactor at the power station was shut down in 2006.